Planning and Resources Meeting Minutes

Meeting Details:

Fiscal Year: FY2026
Date:
Time: 1:00 pm
Location: Zoom
Minutes Recorded By: Shayla Murphy
Minutes Approved On:

Attendance—

Attending Members

  • Missy Somers
  • Jeff DeWitt
  • Corinne Bannon
  • Jason Hornberger
  • Brett Sitts
  • Jason O’Connor
  • Andrew Moddrell
  • Mia Keene

Other Attendees

Shayla Murphy

New Business —


Jeff DeWitt, CFO, shares an update on the financial landscape:

  • Just closing the books on FY2025.
  • Many out-of-state students didn’t enroll as we thought. This is affecting the budget forecast.
  • By March - when the Spring Forum is tentatively slated – Jeff may have a better feel for where we’re at. Don’t know where we’re going to land on research.
  • Later March is likely better for the forum as will probably have more information. The legislative session may be done by later part of March.

  • Voluntary Separation: Application deadline is Dec 1st. Close to 200 faculty are eligible: Full tenured, 10 years of service, and at least 62 years of age.

     

  • Heather Blanck plans to attend an upcoming meeting in Jan or Feb to visit about real estate and the Gateway District. 

  • Enrollment Trends: Corinne is happy to provide Dashboard Data for enrollment trends if needed.

     

  • A general overview on out-of-state enrollment:
    • 32% drop in Illinois (one of the biggest drops by region). Illinois is large feeder state for KU.
    • Engineering students (in Illinois) are choosing Purdue.
    • KU is not on an island with this concern.
    • Looking at scholarships and tuition discounts to recruit out-of-state students.
    • Out-of-state students are going other places so the forecast is off.
    • Global Competency Based Education classes could be helpful.
  • Need to use all our scholarship money and the resources we can. College is getting more expensive and less high school students are going to college. It’s complex and may need to look at nontraditional students more.
  • Jeff suggested inviting Nick Stevens to visit with the group. Important to use all endowed scholarship money to be competitive with other schools. Nick may have some insights and can help dive into strategies.
  • Mia brings up suggestions for students in miliary families and veterans. Expanding benefits in this realm can be helpful and bring in more non-traditional students. Submit idea to Jayhawks Elevate? Nick may have insight on this as well. 

How do we “free up” Endowment funding -- the partnership with KUEA and the Scholarship Alignment Initiative has been a great improvement. 

Meeting adjourned. 

 

Planning and Resources - Nov 17, 2025